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Four disciples of cult leader Chen convicted of childabuseBy Liel Kyzer | May 13, 2010 | 1:20 AM

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Elior Chen, second from right, with three of his followers (from left): Shimon Gabai, David Kugman and AvrahamMascalchi. Photo by Reproduction

Four disciples of cult leader Elior Chen were convicted yesterday ofseverely abusing eight children.

Prosecutors plan to ask the Jerusalem District Court to sentence all ofthem to lengthy prison terms. However, the sentencing hearing will takeplace only in September.

At least some of the defendants David Kugman, Avraham Mascalchi, Ro'iTzoref and Shimon Gabai plan to appeal their convictions.

Chen, who called himself a rabbi, told his disciples theabuse was necessary to "purify" the children, all members of one family. Asa result, the children were severely beaten, burned, locked in suitcases andforced to eat their own feces, among other acts; one child remains in acoma to this day as a result.

In her ruling, Judge Nava BenOr called the case "incomprehensible,"adding that Israel has never before known anything like it.

For instance, Mascalchi, 25, was convicted of burning the fingers of oneNEWS

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6/9/2015 Four disciples of cult leader Chen convicted of child abuse Haaretz Daily Newspaper | Israel News

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child, taping his mouth shut, stuffing him into a suitcase and leaving himthere for some time. Kugman, 24, was convicted of tying up the childrenand then beating them. He also held one child to an electric heater, causingburns so severe that the child needed a skin transplant.

Two of the four defendants denied all the charges against them. The othertwo admitted to some, but claimed that they were helpless under Chen's"magical" influence. BenOr was unmoved.

"The children of the S. family have, on their own bodies, experienced aharsh and painful lesson about the behavior of a man who knowinglydivests himself of every mechanism of restraint and follows a 'righteousman,' or any other leader, without holding himself accountable for hisactions, even though he understands their nature perfectly well," shewrote. "To absolve someone of criminal liability under such circumstancesis like saying man is nothing but an animal."

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